§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he can explain what is meant by the Commissioners of National Education by the expression adequate accommodation of a satisfactory kind in Rule 1276; and if he is aware that in many schools, without any addition to the out-offices, the junior boys are packed into the girls' schools; and whether, in view of this fact, he will have the rule referred to carried out in every school.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in applying Rule 127b they have not considered it necessary to define the character of the accommodation which should be afforded in a girls' school, further than that it should be adequate and satisfactory. Before enforcing the rule in any case, the Commissioners obtain their inspector's report upon all the circumstances, and having regard to the conditions of both the boys' and girls' schools, they then determine which of these schools should be attended by the infant boys. Objections to the application of the rule on sanitary or other grounds are fully considered, and the enrolment of infant boys in girls' schools is not insisted upon in all cases.